Just picked up a Fleetwood TT hybrid, 20 foot with e-brakes (used).
Got the brake controller installed, have a weight distribution hitch and HUSKY (34715) Anti Sway bar.
Driving home with the camper (empty) and Jeep Liberty (Empty except for me) I felt like the front end of the Jeep was wavering from side to side. Trailer seemed to be straight and not swaying.
Trailer and vehicle were reasonably level, but I was just picking it up and driving home, seller wasn't too helpful.
Is this a product of things not being set up properly? IE- I am in the process of making sure things are adjusted correctly for the height of my hitch and I just downloaded the sway control instructions. Should I expect this to go away with better adjustments?
Would more weight help alleviate this issue?
Thank you in advance for any help, I appreciate it!
Read the sticky and learn how to readjust the WD hitch. Probably better to do so after you load it up with your seasonal camping gear. The TT should be level to slightly nose down and the Liberty should have the front height (use a tape measure) returned to unloaded height. I suspect front of TT too high and not enough weight transfer to the front of the jeep.
A & A parents of DD 2005, DS1 2007, DS2 2009 2011 Suburban 2500 6.0L 3.73 pulling 2011 Heartland North Trail 28BRS 2012 VW Passat TDI
It would pay to do a complete and proper hitch setup. Sounds as though your TV is light in the front. www.etrailer.com has hitch set up videos that may help. Go with what your hitch maker says. It would pay to check the tongue weight even though didn't notice trailer sway.
Rich and Joyce
2010 HiLo 2310H
2012 Ford F150 4X4 Supercrew EcoBoost
Reese Strait-Line Dual Cam Hitch Amateur Radio K3EXU
I kind of think that you may have a little too much trailer for your tow vehicle. Not being too familiar with WD hitches, it's possible that you may need to pull the bars on the hitch a little tighter to put more weight on your TV.
Cheers
Helen & George VE3INB and Max (Bichon Frise) 2006 Silverado 2500HD D/A, Isspro Gauges, Linex, Westin Nerf Bars, Fold-A-Cover 2006 Cruiser CF30SK.
Reese 16K Slider, Bedsaver, Prodigy Controller, Rearview Camera, JT StrongArms
If you are using the 18" hitch extension to get past the spare tire, its not helping matters.
Rich
'01 31 ft Rexall Vision, Generac 5.5k, 9245 conv, 400 watt inv, 2 12v batts, ammeters, KingDome/sat, Two Oly Cat heaters, and towing a '05 Jeep Liberty, or sometimes towing a Lowe bass boat.
Smithers66 wrote: I have been pulling a pop up for years- easy.
Just picked up a Fleetwood TT hybrid, 20 foot with e-brakes (used).
Got the brake controller installed, have a weight distribution hitch and HUSKY (34715) Anti Sway bar.
Driving home with the camper (empty) and Jeep Liberty (Empty except for me) I felt like the front end of the Jeep was wavering from side to side. Trailer seemed to be straight and not swaying.
Trailer and vehicle were reasonably level, but I was just picking it up and driving home, seller wasn't too helpful.
Is this a product of things not being set up properly? IE- I am in the process of making sure things are adjusted correctly for the height of my hitch and I just downloaded the sway control instructions. Should I expect this to go away with better adjustments?
Would more weight help alleviate this issue?
Thank you in advance for any help, I appreciate it!
Norm
You will do well to ignore the advice you are going to get here telling you to try a diffeent link, tighten/loosen the bars, tilt the ball, etc. until it looks right or "feels OK". Start by reading the stickies. Re-read them until you totally understand how the WD works and how to properly set it up. You have to transfer enough weight back to the front axle to get the front end height back to where the manufacturer(truck, not hitch) says it needs to be. That's what WD does, and you can't eyeball it. If after memorizing the set up process you still have a problem, Ron Gratz or John Barca will chime in and will probably supply you with the information you need. There are a lot of people out there towing that because the rig looks level, they think they are good. Not so.. I even had a tech(???) ata dealership tell me my setup was OK because it "looked" good. Amazing..
* This post was
edited 03/27/12 10:01am by Bob Landry *
Make sure you have 13 to 15% of the FULLY LOADED TT weight on the tongue. Then adjust your WDH properly.
Chuck
Wonderful Wife
Australian Shepherd
2010 Ford Expedition TV
2010 Outback 230RS Toybox, 5390# UVW, 6800# Loaded Not yet camped in Hawaii, 2 Canada Provinces, & 2 Territories I can't be lost because I don't care where this lovely road is going
If the front end is not right, usually the tires are out of allignment. Putting alot of weight well behing the rear axle (trailer) will shift the center of gravity of the TV rearward, and can cause the nose of the TV to lift - this causes the allignment to go out of spec. A good place to start is measure from the top of the front fender wells to the ground, on each side, and write the measurement down. Attach the trailer - without hooking up the WD, and repeat. The difference is what is (likely) causing your issues. Put on the WD and adjust so you get back to the first (unloaded) measurement. You will likely not be able to hit it perfectly - so ahoot for unloaded, or slightly squated from unloaded. The closer to unloaded (which is where it was when it was alligned) the better. As the front suspension moves up and down all the angles change.
The most likely culprit for your immediate problem is the WD hitch setup. Like others have said, read the sticky in this forum on WD hitches and how to set them up.
You may be trying to tow too much as well.
2002 Chevy 3500 DRW 8.1L/Allison
2000 Palomino B1500
...and the reason why I need a DRW to haul a Palomino:
2004 United 7x14 tandem axle enclosed toy trailer
2011 PJ 8x20 7-ton deckover equipment trailer
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